PITTSBURGH - When it comes to Sidney Crosby's slump, the truth is out there.

The idea that the Pittsburgh Penguins captain would go eight playoff games without netting a goal is so alien to fans that it has created a buzz that has been out of this world.

"And it's not just here in Pittsburgh," said sports talk show host Joe Starkey of 93.7 The Fan. "In Canada, they are running Zapruder-type films of how fast he is skating. Everybody is speculating about what might be wrong with him."

If you count five goalless games at the end of the regular season, Crosby slump is at 13 games, the longest of his career.

It's a conspiracy theorist's delight as people try to solve the Crosby mystery. Some fans believe he has a rib injury. Others theorize it's a broken bone in his hand or arm.

Remember, Crosby says he is not injured, although we have all learned not to trust what is said about injuries at playoff time.

Crosby said again Sunday morning that he feels fine. He was out of uniform — wearing a T-shirt and trousers — when he passed a handful of journalists as left the arena. There was no evidence of an injury.

Crosby has been remarkably patient with the city-wide obsession. He has answered every question, even though reporters repeatedly have asked him about his health since last series.

He said he needs to get to the New York Rangers' net more than he did in Game 1. "They got some big guys and you need to find a way to out-muscle them and get those loose pucks," Crosby said.

He did exactly that in Sunday's 3-0 win as he looked to be more a victim of bad luck than ineffective play. He was buzzing all night, generating six shots on goal. He was robbed by goalie Henrik Lundqvist on what could have been a goalmouth tap-in.

PHOTOS: Round 2 of the NHL playoffs

Los Angeles Kings right wing Marian Gaborik (12) celebrates with defenseman Drew Doughty (8) after scoring a goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the second period in game seven. (Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports)

Anaheim Ducks right wing Kyle Palmieri (21) is called for an elbowing penalty against Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (8) during the third period in game seven. (Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports)

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin (6) celebrates after scoring a goal as Anaheim Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen (45) reacts in the first period in game six of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center. (Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

Anaheim Ducks right wing Corey Perry (10) is checked into the boards by Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jeff Schultz (55) and left wing Kyle Clifford (13) in game six of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center. (Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

Montreal Canadiens right wing Dale Weise (22) celebrates his goal with teammate right wing Brandon Prust (8) as Boston Bruins defenseman Matt Bartkowski (43) looks on during the first period in game seven of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden. (Photo: Winslow Townson, USA TODAY Sports)

Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) slides under Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) and is called for interference during the first period in game seven of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden. (Photo: Greg M. Cooper, USA TODAY Sports)

Boston Bruins right wing Jarome Iginla (12) reacts to scoring a goal on Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) during the second period in game seven of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden. (Photo: Greg M. Cooper, USA TODAY Sports)

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Matt Niskanen (2) trips New York Rangers center Derick Brassard (16) to draw a penalty during the second period in game seven. (Photo: Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports)

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) makes a save against New York Rangers center Brad Richards (19) as defenseman Robert Bortuzzo (right) defends during the first period in game seven. (Photo: Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports)

Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) makes a save as Boston Bruins left wing Loui Eriksson (21) looks for the puck during the second period in the game six. (Photo: Jean-Yves Ahern, USA TODAY Sports)

Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) is checked into the boards by Boston Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller (86) during the first period in the game six. (Photo: Jean-Yves Ahern, USA TODAY Sports)

Minnesota Wild right wing Nino Niederreiter (22) and Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Saad (20) fight for the puck during the first period of game five. (Photo: Dennis Wierzbicki, USA TODAY Sports)

Pittsburgh Penguins center Brandon Sutter (16) is congratulated by teammate left wing Jussi Jokinen (36) after scoring a first period goal against the New York Rangers in game six. (Photo: Andy Marlin, USA TODAY Sports)

Canadiens right wing Brian Gionta battles for the puck with Bruins defensemen Torey Krug and Kevan Miller during the first period of Game 5 at TD Banknorth Garden. (Photo: Greg M. Cooper, USA TODAY Sports)

Anaheim Ducks right wing Teemu Selanne (8) celebrates with center Nick Bonino (13) after scoring a goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the second period in game three. (Photo: Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports)

The Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate a goal by Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) against the New York Rangers during the second period of game three of the second round. (Photo: Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) and left wing James Neal (18) celebrate after defeating the New York Rangers in game two of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. (Photo: Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports)

New York Rangers left wing Carl Hagelin (62) checks Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) during the second period in game two of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. (Photo: Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports)

Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Chris Kunitz (14) and center Evgeni Malkin (71) celebrate a goal by defenseman Kris Letang (58) against the New York Rangers during the second period in game two of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. (Photo: Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sport)

New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) handles the puck against pressure from Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) during the first period in game two of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. (Photo: Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sport)

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Alec Martinez (27), Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) and Los Angeles Kings right wing Marian Gaborik (12) celebrate a goal in the first period of game one of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. (Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports)

Los Angeles Kings right wing Marian Gaborik (12), defenseman Drew Doughty (8), and right wing Justin Williams (14), center Mike Richards (10), center Jeff Carter (77) and center Anze Kopitar (11) celebrate after scoring with seconds left in the third period of game one of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. (Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports)

Anaheim Ducks left wing Matt Beleskey (39) celebrates a goal in the first period of game one of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings at Honda Center. (Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports)

Anaheim Ducks right wing Devante Smith-Pelly (77) checks Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (8) in the first period of game one of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. (Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports)

Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown (23) and Anaheim Ducks defenseman Ben Lovejoy (6) battle in front of the net in the first period of game one of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. (Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports)

New York Rangers center Derick Brassard (16) celebrates his game-winning goal with left wing Daniel Carcillo (13) against the Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime in Game 1 of their second-round series. (Photo: Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports)

Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) skates with the puck as New York Rangers defenseman Anton Stralman (6) defends during the third period in game one. (Photo: Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports)

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Because it's the playoffs, Crosby is getting checked with greater emphasis and intensity. Most players are fatigued and banged up at this time of year. Crosby, who skated in the Olympics and has played his first full season since 2009-10, might be banged up more than most. In other words, it might be a perfect storm of factors coming together to put him in a scoring drought. Even superstars have slumps.

Babe Ruth once went 14 games and three exhibition games without a home run and probably Bronx bars were filled with chatter about what was wrong with The Bambino.

"This time of year, I don't think anyone expects to touch (the puck) more or rack up 12 scoring chances," Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. "It's tough sledding. Whether you get a matchup, it's going to be tough and he expects it to be tough."

It's clearly more talked-about in the public domain than in the dressing room.

"To be perfectly honest, I could care less if he scores a goal in the entire playoffs as long as we win games, win series," said Pittburgh defenseman Rob Scuderi. "It doesn't matter to me. If he is playing well, we are going to get benefit from that, momentum from that.

"If he can't put one past the goalie, he isn't going to care if we are winning."

Teammate Craig Adams said he is more concerned about the Penguins' team defense than about Crosby's drought.

"I think the guys want to help him get one," said former Penguins player Phil Bourque, now the team's radio analyst. "But when you are in that room, part of the band of brothers, you try to bust each other's cookies, to make light of it, you try to take the weight off. I don't think it's as big a deal as the media thinks it is."

Without question, the slump is magnified because expectations for Crosby are stratospherically high. He has 11 assists in those 12 games, which is a hot streak for most players.

Crosby's supporters are digging into advanced statistic analysis – such as the Corsi rating – to find evidence that he's still playing at a high level. Others are blaming him for the Penguins' inconsistency in the postseason, a rarity for Crosby. Crosby doesn't usually get blamed for team struggles.

"He's getting less of a pass lately," Starkey said. "(Remember) last year's Boston series when neither (Crosby or Evgeni Malkin) had a point.

"Of course, Malkin just had a hat trick the other day. So he has won a game for them in the playoffs, and people will point out that Sid hasn't."

All of this comes during a season in which Crosby scored 104 points when no one else had 90.

That feat seems far more unlikely than going seven playoff games without a goal.